Abstract
The measurement of substances mixtures properties by ultrasonic approach represents a high interest for industrial sector. In particular, the evaluation of fission gas mixtures in nuclear combustion rod under harsh temperature and radiative environment is of a great interest for fuel characterization and notably lifetime optimization. Previously, an acoustic sensor for in situ fission gases (mainly He and He-Xe mixtures) measurements was developed in our laboratory and tested under experimental condition in OSIRIS reactor (Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission facility). Its operational temperature was limited by 200°C [1]. In this paper, a first prototype for measurement in the temperature range from 300 to 400°C is presented. Piezoelectric material was deposit on alumina substrate by screen printing technique. Sodium Bismuth Titanate (NBT) was used as active material. Studies on dielectric properties and impedances behaviors as function of temperature confirm the sensor use in the range of up to 400°C. Realized device was integrated into a sealed cavity. Gas mixtures were successfully characterized at room temperature conditions in a sealed cavity allowing pressure up to 70 bars.